Academic & Teaching Staff
Professor Leung Bo Wah
Professor
Music Education, Transmission of Cantonese Opera, Creativity in Music
(852) 2948 7063
Professor Leung Bo Wah
Professor
Professor Leung Bo-Wah is an esteemed academic and music expert, currently holding the position of Professor in the Department of Cultural and Creative Arts, as well as the Director of the Research Centre for Transmission of Cantonese Opera at The Education University of Hong Kong. Internationally renowned for his pioneering work in integrating Cantonese opera into formal music curriculum, Professor Leung has earned numerous accolades for his exceptional contributions to the field.
Among his prestigious awards, he was honored with the Musical Rights Award from the International Music Council (founded by UNESCO) in 2011 and received the Knowledge Transfer Award from HKIEd in 2012. Both distinctions recognized his outstanding leadership in the research project titled “Collaborative Project on Teaching Cantonese Opera in Primary and Secondary Schools.” Throughout his distinguished career at HKIEd, Professor Leung has developed several essential educational resources, such as the Teaching Package on Creative Music Making in Schools and a collection of music textbooks widely utilized by schools in Hong Kong.
As a prolific scholar, Professor Leung's work transcends borders, with numerous research papers in leading international journals and edited books, such as the International Journal of Music Education, Research Studies in Music Education, Oxford Handbook of Music Education, and more. His groundbreaking Chinese book, Teaching Creative Music Making: New Trend for the New Century (Excellence Pub., 2005), was the first publication in Hong Kong to focus on creativity in music teaching and learning. The book's success led to a revised edition tailored to mainland China's music curriculum reform (People’s Music Publisher, 2014). Furthermore, Professor Leung's books like Creative Arts in Education and Culture: Perspectives from Greater China (Springer, 2013) and Traditional Musics in the Modern World: Transmission, Evolution, Challenges (Springer, 2018) showcase his thought leadership in creative arts and global traditional music transmission.
Beyond his work with EdUHK, Professor Leung's expertise is widely recognized in various prestigious roles, such as the current President of the International Society for Music Education (ISME), Executive Forum Member of World Alliance for Arts Education, Chair of the Board of Asia-Pacific Symposium for Music Education Research (APSMER), and Adjunct Professor of Music at renowned institutions like the Northeast Normal University, Guangzhou University, and South China Normal University in China. A life member of the Chinese Musician Association, Professor Leung has held significant positions, such as Chief Editor of the Asia-Pacific Journal for Arts Education and Consultant of the Chinese Opera School at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.
Having served three terms as a Board Member of the International Society for Music Education (ISME), Professor Leung's dedication to music education is evident in his various roles, including co-editor of the International Journal of Music Education, Chair of the Music in School and Teacher Education Commission (MISTEC) and Research Commission of ISME, and founding President of the Hong Kong Association for Music Educators (HAME). Professor Leung has received three General Research Fund Grants from the Research Grant Council in 2011, 2014, and 2019, and two QEF grants in 2009 and 2021, further highlighting his distinguished reputation in the field. He earned his BA (Hon) in Music and PGDE from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, MA in music education from Hong Kong Baptist University, and PhD from the University of New South Wales, Australia.
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PhD (University of New South Wales, Australia)
MA (Hong Kong Baptist University)
DipEd (The Chinese University of Hong Kong)
BA (The Chinese University of Hong Kong)
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Areas of Teaching
Creativity in Music
Aesthetics of Cantonese Opera
Research Methods
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Research Interests
Creativity in Music Teaching and Learning
Motivation in Music Teaching and Learning
Teaching Cantonese Opera in schools
Music Teacher Education
Music Curriculum Development -
Selected Outputs
- Zhang, L.-X., & Leung, B.-W. (2024). Defining music demonstration lessons: A unique performance-based lesson type improving teachers' instructional skills in Chinese mainland education. British Journal of Music Education. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0265051724000214
- Brittin, R., & Leung, B. W. (2024). Editorial. International Journal of Music Education, 32(4), 395. https://doi.org/10.1177/0255761414557601
- Leung, B. W. (2024). Music education in a changing political environment: Reflections on the school music curriculum in Hong Kong. In J. L. Aróstegui, C. Christophersen, J. Nichols, & K. Matsunobu (Eds.), The Sage handbook of school music education (pp. 314-325). Sage.
- Zhang, C., & Leung, B.-W. (2024). Music majors’ self-regulated learning (SRL) of music practice in China: Two case studies based on the SRL microanalysis. International Journal of Music Education, 42(3), 367-380. https://doi.org/10.1177/02557614231170285
- Zhang, C., Kwan, J. L. Y., & Leung, B.-W. (2024). Relationships between perceived parenting styles and the self-regulated music practice of Chinese music majors. Musicae Scientiae. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/10298649241287374
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Research Projects
- Learning Cantonese Opera and Development of Cultural and Life Education, Quality Education Fund, 2021 – 2023
- National education as cultural education: Developing students’ Chinese cultural identity with learning and teaching Cantonese opera in Hong Kong and Guangzhou, General Research Fund, 2020 – 2021
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Prizes and Awards
- Musical Rights Award, 2011, International Music Council
- Knowledge Transfer Award, 2012, Hong Kong Institute of Education
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External Appointments
- President (2022-24), International Society for Music Education (ISME)
- Executive Forum Member, World Alliance for Arts Education (WAAE)
- Vice-Chairperson, Hong Kong-Taiwan Economic and Cultural Co-operation and Promotion Council, Home Affairs Bureau
- Convener, Hong Kong-Taiwan Cultural Co-operation Committee, Home Affairs Bureau
- Member, Advisory Board of Arts Information Centre, Hong Kong Arts Development Council
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Major External Research Grants
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Learning Cantonese Opera and Development of Cultural and Life Education, Quality Education Fund, 2022-23
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National education as cultural education: Developing students’ Chinese cultural identity with learning and teaching Cantonese opera in Hong Kong and Guangzhou, GRF, 2019
- The nature of creativity in Cantonese opera: Perceptions of artists, connoisseurs and beginners and their interaction, GRF, 2014
- Transmission and pedagogical models in Cantonese Opera: A study of the Chinese oral and the Western conservatory traditions, GRF, 2011
- Partnership Project on Teaching and Learning of Cantonese Opera in Primary and Secondary Schools, QEF, 2009
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